My Own Boston: Ryan Lim

A love for all things ramen

In the latest installment of our new series “My Own Boston,” where students talk a bit about themselves and share their favorite places to visit off campus, we introduce Ryan Lim. Born in Singapore, Lim (ENG’18, MED’22) moved to Idaho when he was 13, but returned to his birth country to serve in the Singapore Army as a tank operator for two years before coming to BU. During his travels, he fell in love with traditional Japanese ramen restaurants. After arriving on campus, he discovered two that have become his go-to staples, one in nearby Coolidge Corner, the other in Cambridge’s Porter Square.

“I usually go out to eat ramen with my friends,” says Lim. “It’s a way to celebrate the friendships I’ve made.”

Just a short walk from BU, this delightful ramen shop is on the ground floor of the historic Coolidge Corner Arcade building. Serving up flavorful bowls of Sapporo-style ramen, Ganko Ittetsu caramelizes vegetables to produce its tare (sauce). Every bowl is cooked in a wok, giving it a deep, aromatic flavor.

Lim recommends: “You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but my personal favorites are the Tan Tan Ramen and the Miso Ramen. Be sure to order an extra egg with the Tan Tan.”

This Porter Square ramen shop encourages its devoted fans to share their dreams with the restaurant’s patrons. Lim has done just that. Whenever he’d stop by, he’d talk about his aspiration of becoming a doctor. It worked. He’s been accepted to BU’s School of Medicine, and he’ll enroll next fall after graduating from the College of Engineering with a degree in biomedical engineering in May 2018.

Lim recommends: “Yume Wo Katare doesn’t take credit cards, so be sure to bring cash. And if you’re stopping by on a cold winter day, bundle up, because the line to get in can be as long as an hour and a half. Is it worth braving the freezing tundra? Absolutely.”